For Kate Forbes, a lifetime of Red Cross service began with a single request she almost declined.

At the time, she was a certified public accountant balancing a demanding career and a young family. A colleague invited her to chair an audit committee meeting for the local American Red Cross chapter in Phoenix, Arizona.

“I told him I was too busy,” Kate recalled. “And he said, ‘No one is ever too busy for the American Red Cross.’”

That one meeting became a 45-year journey of leadership — from local chapter service to national governance, and ultimately to serving as president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Along the way, Kate has also been part of the Tiffany Circle community, standing alongside women who believe in pairing philanthropy with purpose.

A Place for Every Skill

Kate’s connection to the Red Cross began even earlier when she was a Girl Scout, earning her first aid badge and learning to swim at a public pool. But it was her professional expertise that drew her deeper into service.

Reviewing financial reports at the Phoenix chapter, she saw opportunities to strengthen the information available to leadership and improve internal reporting. One improvement led to another. Soon she was on the board, then chairing the chapter — one of the largest in the country at the time — and eventually serving nationally and internationally.

Looking back, she sees a simple truth.

“Everyone has time,” she said. “And everyone has skills that the Red Cross needs. Whatever you give, you get back twofold.”

For Tiffany Circle women — leaders, professionals, philanthropists — that message resonates deeply. The Red Cross is not just a place to give financially. It is a place to bring your expertise, your voice, and your leadership skills.

Leadership Grounded in Community

For more than four decades, Kate has seen the power of local action. She recalls early work advocating for fencing around pools in Native American communities after learning about high child drowning rates in her local community. She served through 9/11 and

Hurricane Katrina, witnessing how the Red Cross transforms public trust into shelter, food, comfort and hope.

At the international level, she has worked in more than 50 countries. She has met women walking miles for water, families without access to clinics, and communities rebuilding after conflict or climate disasters.

“We truly are the only humanitarian network that reaches that last mile,” she said. “We have to be trusted to receive aid — and trusted to deliver it.”

Trust is what makes the work possible. Without trust, nothing moves.

The Power of Women’s Voices

As a Tiffany Circle member and global leader, Kate has seen firsthand the difference women make in humanitarian leadership.

“Women are used to balancing many demands at once,” she said, “Leadership requires prioritizing, compromising, and bringing people together who see things differently.”

She recalls visiting a flood-affected community in Africa. Relief efforts had delivered food and water, but no one had thought about providing privacy for women at the sanitation facilities. When Kate met with the women separately, they spoke to her about what had been overlooked.

“When we talk about accountability, it’s not just about adding up the numbers,” she said. “It’s about whether we delivered what people actually needed.”

That approach — listening first, centering dignity, and ensuring women’s voices are heard — defines Tiffany Circle leadership and shapes the way Kate leads.

Governance, Integrity, and Safeguarding

Kate has also led on governance at the highest levels of the Red Cross Movement, chairing the IFRC Audit and Risk Commission during a time of intense global scrutiny and mounting operational demands.

To her, strong governance begins with clarity of purpose — and the courage to ask difficult questions. It means creating space for respectful disagreements while still moving forward together.

Kate also demands rigorous safeguarding, ensuring that the Red Cross and Red Crescent are not only safe spaces for those seeking refuge, but safe institutions for those delivering services.

“Women and children are often the most vulnerable,” she said. “We must ensure the way we deliver services protects their dignity and safety.”

Under her leadership, safeguarding policies and codes of conduct have been strengthened across the Federation, reinforcing the integrity that underpins public trust.

A Movement at a Turning Point

Today, as IFRC president, Kate leads during a period of immense global challenges. Humanitarian needs are rising, funding landscapes are dramatically shifting, and despite this, our dedicated volunteers continue to serve in the most difficult circumstances.

And through it all, one principle sits at the core of Kate’s foundation.

“Neutrality is what allows us to deliver services anywhere,” she said. “We serve anyone who walks through our doors.”

For a network of women who invest not only financially but personally in the mission, this commitment to neutrality is essential.

A Guiding Principle for the Next Generation

As the next generation of women begin to move into Tiffany Circle and Red Cross leadership roles, she has one piece of advice, and it is direct:

“Keep your word. Keep your commitment,” she said. “Integrity builds trust, and trust opens doors.”

From achieving her first aid badge to one audit meeting in Phoenix to the presidency of the world’s largest humanitarian network, Kate Forbes’ journey reflects the guiding spirit of the Tiffany Circle: leadership rooted in purpose, philanthropy aligned with action, and women using their skills to change lives.

All it takes is saying “yes” to one meeting.